Inclusive Workplaces Toolkit icon

Inclusive Workplaces Toolkit

Inclusive Workplaces Toolkit

Toolkit collated by Hannah Wilson

What Is Workplace Inclusion?

Workplace inclusion is when people feel valued and accepted in their team and in the wider organisation, without having to conform. Inclusive organisations support employees, regardless of their background or circumstance, to thrive at work.

Inclusion is the culture in which the mix of people can come to work, feel comfortable and confident to be themselves, and work in a way that suits them and delivers your business or service needs. Inclusion will ensure that everyone feels valued and importantly, adds value.

What Is an Inclusive Workplace?

An inclusive workplace is a workplace where all employees feel respected and included. All employees in an inclusive workplace receive equal opportunities to company resources. Inclusive workplaces emphasise the importance of not just hiring diverse employees but embracing and celebrating their traits and qualities.

Everyone should work to make all team members feel welcomed and encouraged to express their individuality. This helps everyone feel more accepted, comfortable and excited to come to work.

Why Is an Inclusive Workplace Important?

An inclusive workplace is important because it builds a positive atmosphere that all employees will enjoy being a part of. This helps boost employee morale and creates a vibrant company culture, causing you to have a strong sense of belonging at work including feeling accepted by all of your coworkers.

Diverse and inclusive workplaces can also make your workplace more innovative and productive, as everyone will feel like their ideas matter and are well-heard, no matter their culture, gender or ethnicity. This also typically builds confidence and self-esteem in employees to voice their opinions and produce impressive work for the company.

What Are the Benefits of an Inclusive Workplace?

Positive and inclusive work cultures create a sense of identity for employees, foster a sense of commitment, and guide or shape the attitudes and behaviours of all employees. An inclusive workplace is more likely to attract and retain a diverse workforce, which has the potential to outperform competitors. An inclusive workplace benefits all employees.

The Diverse Educators’ Inclusive Workplaces Toolkit

We are collating a growing bank of resources to support you and your team in considering how inclusive your workplace is and how inclusive you are as an employer. Some key questions to reflect on:
  • Have you set/ agreed inclusivity goals for your team?
  • How have you shown others what inclusivity means?
  • Have you created space for an inclusion council?
  • How do you celebrate and embrace your team members and their differences?
  • Have you made your meetings inclusive and engaging?
  • How do you express your appreciation for team members?
  • What actions have you taken to ensure that everyone feels like they belong?
  • Have you reviewed your policies to ensure that you identify and remove barriers impacting your vision for inclusion?

Articles

Business News Daily – A Culture of Inclusion: Promoting Workplace Diversity and Belonging

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Forbes – What An Inclusive Workplace Actually Looks Like, And Seven Ways To Achieve It

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Gallup - 3 Requirements for a Diverse and Inclusive Culture

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Indeed – How To Practice Inclusiveness in Today's Workplace

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McKinsey – The Elusive Inclusive Workplace

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TED – How to Make Diversity, Equity and Inclusion a Reality at Work – Not Just a Mission Statement

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Books

Barak, Michalle E.Mor. Managing Diversity: Toward a Globally Inclusive Workplace

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Frost, Stephen and Kalman, Danny – Inclusive Talent Management: How Business can Thrive in an Age of Diversity

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Frost, Stephen and Alidina, Raafi-Karim – Building an Inclusive Organization: Leveraging the Power of a Diverse Workforce

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Nash, Kate – Positively Purple: Build an Inclusive World Where People with Disabilities Can Flourish

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Segura, Antonia – Your Guide To Creating An Inclusive Workplace: Cultivating Success Through Diversity

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Shane, Kryss – Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive Workplace: The Practical Resource Guide for Business Leaders

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Podcasts

Adam Grant – Work Life

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Dare to Lead

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Emotional Inclusion

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HR Works – An Inclusive Workplace for All

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Inclusive Employers – Talking Inclusion With…

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reWorked - The Diversity and Inclusion Podcast

Listen

Resources

CASE HR Inclusive Policy Toolkit – Inclusive Workplace

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CIPD

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Inclusive Employers

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TED Talks

Daisy Auger Domiguez – Inclusion Revolution

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Janet Stovall – How to Get Serious About Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

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Rosalind G Brewer – How to Foster True Diversity and Inclusion at Work (and in Your Community)

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Sofie Van De Meulen – Reinventing Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace

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Wendy Knight – From the Inside Out: Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

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Yaron Zoller – Inclusion, Not Just Diversity!

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Videos

CIPD – Inclusive Workplaces

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HBR – Understanding Inclusion: Why Belonging At Work Matters

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TeamTailor – Diversity & Inclusion: How to Create an Inclusive Workplace

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